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BRIEF SKETCHES 



OF THE 



New Jersey Chaplains 



IN THE 



CONTINENTAL ARMY, AND IN THE 
STATE MILITIA. 

During the War of Independence. 



By REV. F. R. BRACE. 



PATERSON, N. J : 
The Press Printing and Publishing Company. 

1909 






Fifty copies reprinted from the Proceedings of the New Jersey 
Historical Society, 3d Series VI., i. 



MN 2! 191U 



-BRIEF SKETCHES 

... OF ... 

NEW JERSEY CHAPLAINS 

IN THE ARMY OF THE REVOLUTION. 



The principal sources of information from which these 
sketches of the chaplains from New Jersey in the War of In- 
dependence have been drawn, are Stryker's "Officers and 
Men in the Army of the Revolution" ; " New Jersey Archives" ; 
Sprague's "Annals of the American Pulpit" ; Hall's " Histbry 
of the Presbyterian Church in Trenton"; Minutes of the Gen- 
eral Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States T 
Dubbs', also Good's " History of the Reformed Church in the 
United States"; Griffith's " History of the Baptists in New 
Jersey," and Fenwick's " History of Salem." 

There were twelve Chaplains from New Jersey in the War 
of the Revolution : Revs. Andrew Hunter, Jr., Philip Vickers 
Fithian, Samuel Eakin, Elihu Spencer, James F. Armstrong, 
James Caldwell, Alexander Macwhorter, Nicholas Cox, William 
Worth, John Mason, John Nevelling and Robeit Black well. 



I. Rev. Andrew Hunter. 

Rev. Andrew Hunter was a s>on of David Hunter, a British 
officer, and was born in Virginia in 1752. He was the nephew 
of Rev. Andrew Hunter, Sr., Pastor of the Presbyterian 



4 CHAPLAINS IN THE REVOLUTION. 

Church in Greenwich, Cumberland County, New Jersey, one 
of the most enthusiastic advocates of the independence of the 
Colonies, and one of the celebrated tea-burning party at Green- 
wich, Nov. 22, 1774. He was graduated in 1772, from Piince- 
ton college, that nursery of so many sturdy opponents of the 
oppressive acts of the mother country. His theological stud- 
ies were pursued under his uncle at Greenwich, and in June, 
1774, he was licensed to preach, by the Presbytery of Philadel- 
phia. After his licensure he was appointed a missionary to 
some vacant and newly-constituted churches in Virginia. The 
young man imbibed the patriotic spirit of his uncle and soon 
connected himself with the army. He was appointed by the 
Provincial Congress of New Jersey, June 28, 177^5 chaplain 
of three battalions that were being raised under the commands 
of Colonels Van Cortland, Martin and Hunt, constituting 
Heard's Brigade, intended to reinforce the army at New York. 
It is s^id that before this he was with tiie brave fellows who 
i7iarched to Canada, and who met with the fearful disaster at 
Qiiebec, when General Montgomery was killed. He was 
commissioned chaplain of the Third Battalion, ^Second Estab- 
lishment, Continental Army, Jersey line, June i, 1777; chap- 
lain to General Maxwell's Brigade, June 15, 1777. This Brig- 
ade formed part of General Sullivan's force that marched from 
Elizabeth, May 19, 1779, up through North Jersey to Easton, 
and thence through the mountainous country of Northeastern 
Pennsylvania to the Wyoming valley to put a stop to the awful 
cruellies perpetrated by the Indians. On July 4th he preached 
a sermon to the soldiers to encourage and stimulate them in 
their hard work. After his return from this expedition he was 
commissioned Chaplain of the Third Brigade, September 26, 
17S0. This Brigade landed September 21, 17S1, on the James 
river, Va., about five miles from Williamsburg, and was after- 
wards part of the army engaged in the siege of Yorktown. 
Before the march to the Wyoming valley, and while the Brig- 
ade was near Elizabeth, Mr. Hunter was taken prisoner in the 
night, on returning from the Governor's house, whither he had 
gone to give an alarm respecting the approach of a body of the 
enemy. He, however, made his escape. He was discharged 



CHAPLAINS IN THE REVOLUTION. 5 

at the close of the war. At the battle of Monmouth he re- 
ceived the personal thanks of General Washington for his con- 
duct. 

After resting for a few years after the close of the war, he 
became, in 17S6, the supply of the Presbyterian churches of 
Woodbury and Blackwood, in which relation he continued un- 
til 1797. Besides preaching he opened an Academy at Wood- 
bury, and taught the higher branches of learning to a large 
number of young people. This Academy was built in 1791, 
on land conveyed by Joseph Bloomfield, afterwards Governor 
of this State, to Rev. Andrew Hunter and others, in trust, for 
the sole purpose of building an Academy upon it. He re- 
signed his work in Woodbury and Blackwood, and moved near 
Trenton, where he cultivated a farm on the Delaware. He was 
chosen Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy in Princeton 
in 1S04, and held that position until iSoS. He was trustee of 
Princeton college from 17SS to 1804, and again from iSoS to 
1811. From 1808 to 1810 he had charge of an Academy at \ 

Bordentown. In 1811 he was appointed Chaplain of the Na- 
vy, and was stationed at the Washington Navy Yard. He died 
at Burlington, N. J., Feb. 24, 1823. Mr. Hunter was a prom- 
inent minister in the Presbyterian Church, and was a Commis- 
sioner to its highest Church Court at least twice, and was a 
member of the committee to revise and print a report that re- ■^ 
lated to the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church. 

n. Rev. Philip Vickers Pithian. 

Rev. Philip Vickers Fithian was born in or near Green- 
wich, Cumberland County. The Presbytery of Pl.iladelphia . 
licensed him to preach, Nov. 6, 1774. He married the daugh- 
ter of Rev. Charles Beatty. He was a Presbyterian Evangel- 
ist and travelled through South Jersey, Delaware, Maryland 
and Virginia, conducting religious services. Enthusiastic in 
his devotion to the cause of American liberty, he was one of 
the leading spirits in the celebrated tea-burning at Greenwich, 
Nov. 22, 1774. On June 20th, 1776, he was appointed Chap- 

1 A brief sketch of Rev. Andrew Hunter is printed in the N. J. Archives, 2d ^^ 

Series, 3: 108. 



D CHAPLAINS IN TIIK UE\OLUTION. 

lain of the Battalion under the command of Colonel New- 
comb, and to the Battalion to be raised in the Coimties of Mid- 
dlesex and Monmouth, which was destined for New York. 
He accompanied the Battalion in its march to the assistance of 
the army near New York, was at the battle of White Plains, 
and was killed at Fort Washington, Nov. i6, 1776. 

III. Rev. Samuel Eakin. 

Rev. Samuel Eakin was graduated from Princeton College, 
September 26, 1763, and received the degree of Master of Arts, 
September 24, 1776. The Second Presbytery of Philadelphia 
licensed him to preach and ordained him in 1770. He was in- 
stalled pastor of the Third (old Pine St.) Presbyterian Church, 
Philadelphia, and continued as pastor for two years, when, in 
17731 he moved to Penn's Neck, Salem County, and took 
charge of the Presbyterian Church there. When the time 
came for men to declare their sentiments about the right to 
throw off the yoke of the British government, he was outspo- 
ken, and helped greatly to arouse the patriotic spirit of the 
men in Salem county. He was at all their military trainings, 
and whenever an order was issued for a detachment of soldiers 
to march, he was sure to be there to encourage the men and in- 
spire them with his eloquent, impassioned words. It is related 
of him that he never failed in his public prayer to implore the 
Lord " to teach our people to fight and give them courage and 
perseverence to overcome their enemies." He was appointed 
a Chaplain of Militia in Salem county, but because of his ar- 
dent advocacy of the war for independence he so aroused the 
hatred of the Tory element, that he had to leave Penn's Neck 
in 1777. He removed to Delaware, where he lived and 
preached until his death in 17S4. 

IV. Rev. Elhiu Spencer. 

Rev. Elihu Spencer was born in Iladdam, Conn., Feb. 12, 
1 72 1, and was a graduate of Yale College in 1746. He was 
ordained in Boston, September 14, 174S. His first work was 
as a missionary to the Indians. Then, February 7, 1749, he 



CHAPLAINS IN THE REVOLUTION. 7 

became pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Elizabeth, preach- 
ing part of the time at Shrewsbury. His ministrations there 
closed 1756. His next charge was in Jamaica, Long Island, 
where he remained two years. In 175S he received an ofl'er 
from Governor Delancey, of New Yoik, of a chaplaincy to the 
troops of the Province then detailing for the French War. In 
May, 1 761, he was received by the Presbytery of New Bruns- 
wick, and supplied churches at Amboy, Middletown Point and 
along the seashore to Egg Harbor. He was also sent on im- 
portant errands to the Southern colonies, and ministered to 
many churches. In 1766, January 17th, he became a member 
of New Castle Presbytery in Delaware, and on April 17th, was 
installed pastor of the churches of St. George and Apoquim- 
iney, now Middletown. As the place did not agree with his 
own and his family's constitution, and their health was greatly 
impaired, he requested the Presbytery to dissolve the pastoral 
relation. This was done Oct. 19, 1769. He moved to Tren- 
ton and commenced his work with the congregations of the 
First Presbyterian Church and Maidenhead, Oct. 17, 1769, al- 
though he was not received by the Presbytery of New Bruns- 
wick until the spring of 1771. He was never installed pastor, 
that is, there is no record of it. Dr. Hall says, " There is no 
record to show when, if at all. Mr. vSpencer was installed in 
Trenton. At his reception in Trenton by the Presbytery in 
1771, it was without the mention of any particular place. His 
patriotic spirit may have forethought that he should be called, 
if not like his co-presbyter, Witherspoon, to the public coun- 
cils, yet to a return of his chaplaincy in the army." In i775i 
he and Rev. Alexander Macwhorter, pastor of the Presbyterian 
Church of Newark, were appointed by Congress, in accord- 
ance with an invitation from the delegates from North Caroli- 
na, to take a journey to that colony and preach and converse 
for some time among those people, as their case was extremely 
critical. In the Journal of the Continental Congress of Dec. 
15, 1775. is this minute : " Resolved, That orders be drawn on 
the Treasurer in favor of the Rev. Elihu Spencer and the Rev. 
Mr. Alexander McWhorter, who have undertaken to go to 
North Carolina, for the sum of one hundred and twenty dol- 



5 CHAPLAINS IN THE REVOLUTION. 

lars each, beings three months' advance, they to be accountable." 
The Colonies were divided into three military departments. 
The middle one comprised New York, New Jersey, Pennsyl- 
vania, the lower counties on the Delaware, now the State of 
belaware, and Maryland. In October, 1776, it was ordered 
that a hospital be provided for this department, in New Jersey, 
which was done, and on October 20, 1777, Mr. Spencer was 
elected by ballot, chaplain of that hospital. He was so ardent 
and active in behalf of the patriots that a reward of a hundred 
dollars was oflered for his head by the British government, and 
during the occupation of Trenton, in 1776, by the British forces, 
his furniture, books and papers were all destroyed. He contin- 
ued pastor of the Presbyterian Church until Dec. 27th, 17841 
when he passed to his rest and reward. Mr. Spencer was very 
active in church work, and served on many important commit- 
tees. He was also a trustee of Princeton college from 1752 
until the day of his death. 

V. Rev. James Francis Armstrong. 

Rev. James Francis Armstrong was born in Maryland, 
April 3d, 1750, and was educated at Fagg's Manor, Pa., and 
at Princeton. He was licensed to preach and ordained by the 
Presbytery of New-Castle, January, 1777, in order that he 
might become a chaplain in the armv. His licensure could not 
take place in New Jersey because of its occupation by the 
British troops. He had been a volunteer in Captain Peter Gor- 
don's company. First Regiment, Hunterdon county, but be- 
lieving that he could do more for the cause of independence by 
becoming a chaplain, he presented himself for licensure and 
ordination to the Presbytery of New Brunswick. His trials in 
the various branches of knowledge required of those desiring 
to enter the church were begun before this Presbytery, but the 
presence of the enemy in Trenton and vicinity prevented his 
finishing his examinations, and so he was permitted to go to 
the Presbytery of New-Castle, in Delaware, to pass his final 
examinations, where he was ordained. His appointment as 
chaplain was made July 17, 177S, and he was assigned to the 
Second Maryland Brigade. Before his commission was re- 



CHAPLAINS IN THE RRVOLUTION. 9 

ceived he accompanied the troops on the Southern campaign. 
He performed his duties as chaplain until the close of the war. 
He returned to New Jersey in 17S2, and became a supply of 
the Presbyterian church of Elizabeth. That year he married 
Susannah Livingston, a daughter of Robert James Livingston. 
In 17S4 he came to Trenton and commenced his work in the 
First Presbyterian church, and served that church until liis 
death, January 19, 1S16. 

Mr. Armstrong was a man of great influence in the Pres- 
byterian church, and had much to do in the preparation of the 
constitution of the church. He was also deeply interested in 
the education of the young, and was one of the zealous work- 
ers for the establishment of the Trenton academy in which the 
boys of Trenton were prepared for college for about one hun- 
dred years. He was also engaged to take the general superin- 
tendence of the academy. He was a supporter and director of 
the Trenton Library Company. In 1799 he was elected a 
Trustee of the College of New Jersey, and filled that impor- 
tant position until his death. 

VI. Rev. James Caldwell. 

Rev. James Caldwell was pastor of the First Presbyterian 
church, of Elizabeth, when he was appointed chaplain. He 
was born in Charlotte coimty, Va., in April, 1734. His edu- 
cation for the ministry was obtained in Princeton college. He 
was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of New Brunswick, 
July 29, 1760, and was ordained pastor of the church at Eliza- 
beth, March, 1762. His devotion to the cause of liberty, and 
his speeches, sermons and influence, gave so much strength 
and enthusiasm to the patriots, that he was an object of the 
greatest hatred by the Tory element. He was chosen in May, 
1776, chaplain of the Third Battalion, First Establishment, 
under the command of Colonel Dayton. Afterward he was 
made Deputy Qiiarter Master and Assistant Commissary Gener- 
al. In these several capacities he served until he was sliot, Nov. 
24, 17S1, by a soldier believed to be in the pay of the British.' 

1 The soldier was a sentry on duty and pretended to have made a mistake. He 
was tried and convicted of murder, and hanged January 29, 1782, at Westfleld. 



lO CHAPLAINS IN THE REVOLUTION. 

His wife had been barbarously murdered before (JiineS, 17S0), 
in a house in Connecticut Farms, wiiither she had fled for ref- 
uge. His church was burned down by the enemy, January 25, 
17S0. He was the chaplain, who, when he learned that the 
soldiers had no wad to compress the powder in their guns, 
rushed into the Presbyterian church at Springfield and brought 
out in his arms the hymn books (Watts') that were used in that 
church, and tearing out the leaves, gave them to the soldiers, 
crying out to them, "Give them Watts, boys, give them 
Watts." 

Vn. Rev. Alexander Macwiiorter. 

Rev. Alexander Macwhorter was born in New Castle, Del., 
July 26, 1734. His academic education was obtained in 
Princeton, where he was graduated in 1757. Rev. William 
Tennent was his theological instructor. In 1759 he was or- 
dained by the Presb) tery of New Brunswick and became pas- 
tor of the First Church, Newark, the mother of so many ac- 
tive, successful churches in the city of Newark and in the 
county of Essex. Like all the Presbyterian ministers, he was 
an active patriot, and stirred and stimulated the members of his 
church to heroic eftbrts in behalf of the struggle for independ- 
ence. He was appointed a chaplain of a Division of the Con- 
tinental Army, and was with General Henry Knox at White 
Plains. He was in the camp of Washington at Penn Shore, 
opposite Trenton, prior to the battle of Trenton, December, 
1776, to concert with Washington measures for the protection 
of the State. He had followed the retreat of the American ar- 
my through New Jersey. In 177S he was chaplain of the ar- 
tillery Brigade, Continental Army. In 1775, he went with the 
Rev. Elihu Spencer, of the First Church, Trenton, fo enlist 
his old friends in North Carolina in the movement for inde- 
pendence. In 1779 he went to Mecklenburg, North Carolina, 
but returned to Newark in 17S1, where he again took up his 
work in the First Church, continuing there until 1807, when he 
fell asleep in Jesus. 

VIII. Rev. Nicholas Cox. 

Rev. Nicholas Cox was born in New Castle county, now 



CHAPLAINS IN THE REVOLUTION. II 

Delaware, March 24, 1743. He was licensed to preach in 
Philadelphia, 1771, and ordained by a council of Baptist min- 
isters in Wantage, Sussex county, N. J., shortly thereafter. 
He was appointed chaplain of the First Battalion, Second Es- 
tablishment, November 2Sth, 1776, and was retired September 
26, 17S0. He continued pastor of the Baptist church at Wantage, 
until 17S3, when he removed to Kingwood, Hunterdon county, 
and was pastor of the Baptist church in that place until i^<)0. 
He joined Trenton lodge No. 5, of Masons, in 1793. His 
children were, John, Martha, William, Elizabeth, Lydia, Su- 
sanna, Thomas, David and Benjamin. The time of his death 
is not recorded. 

IX. Rev. William Worth. 

Rev. William Worth received his academic education in 
in the Hopewell Baptist school, founded in 1756 by Rev. Isaac 
Eaton, A. M. Mr. Worth was there between 1756 and 1767, 
when it closed. He was ordained pastor of the Pittsgrove 
Baptist church, in Salem county. May 16, 1771, and continued 
to serve as pastor until the day of his death. 

He was appointed chaplain of the Second Battalion of the 
troops in Salem county. 

XI. Rev. John Mason. 

Rev. John Mason was born in .Scotland, in 1734- He was 
the son of a fiirmer, but determined to be a minister of the 
gospel. His collegiate education was obtained at Edinburgh, 
where he was graduated in 1753, and n'is theological education 
was at Abernethy, an institution belonging to the Reformed 
Presbyterian church. In this seminary he was professor of Di- 
vinity, also of Logic and Moral Philosophy, from i 75S to 1761, 
when he was ordained,. Having received a call from the Asso- 
ciate Reformed Presbyterian church in Cedar street. New 
York, he came to this country and became pastor of that church 
in 1 76 1. His pronounced sentiments in opposition to the bur- 
densome acts of the British Government made him obnoxious 
to the Tory element, and he had to flee from New York during 
its occupation by the British. He took his family to Plucka- 



13 CHAPLAINS IN THE H K\'UI.UTIO\. 

niin, N. J., where he was at first a cliaphiin in the militia, and 
afterwards in the Continental arm\ . He was a wise counsel- 
lor and a great inspirer of the men uniler his care. He was a 
trustee of Princeton college from 1779 to 1785. He continued 
his pastorate in the Cedar street church until the time of his 
death, April 19, 1792. 

XI. Rev. John Wesley Gilbert Nevelling. 

Rev. John Wesley Gilbert Nevelling was born in Westpha- 
lia, Germany, 1750. He came to this country while he was 
yet young. His studies were pursued in this country. He was 
licensed to preach by the Coetus of Pennsylvania, German Re- 
formed church in 1781, and was ordained pastor of a German 
Reformed cl.urch, in Amwell, N. J., in 1772, which position 
he held until 1783, when he removed to Reading, Pa. He 
was appointed chaplain of the militia, and was so devoted to 
the cause of the patriots that it is said he loaned all his money, 
$12,000, to the American government, for which he received 
a certificate. This certificate was lost and he was never reim- 
bursed. Because of his loyalty to the patriotic cause, the 
British offered a reward for his capture. Washington ordered 
out a troop of horse to protect him. After removing to Read- 
ing he became an invalid, although he lived to the age of ninety- 
four years. The last years of his life were spent in Philadel- 
phia, where he died, January 18, 1844. He was buried in a 
vault by the side of the Race street church. 

It is said that while riding on horseback with a long pipe 
in his mouth, his horse fell and his pipe inflicted a severe 
wound in his throat, which permanently affected his speech ; 
but he continued to preach for many years. 

XH. Rev. Robert Blackwell. 

Robert Blackwell, son of Jacob Francis Blackwell, of Long 
Island, New York, was born May 6, 1748. He enteied Prince- 
ton college, and graduated September 28, 1768, on which oc- 
casion he delivered a "judicious Harangue on Genius," as we 
are told in the New York journal or General Advertiser, of 



CHAPLAINS IN THE REVOLUTION. I3 

October 6, 176S, quoted in the Ne^v Jersey Archives, 27 : 2S7, 
a sketch of Mr. Blackwell being given in that volume, to 
which we are indebted for the account here given. After his 
graduation he studied for the ministry, and on June 11, 1772, 
he was ordained a Deacon in the chapel of Fulham Palace, 
near London, by Bishop Richard Terrick, and subsequently to 
the order of the Priesthood. Returning to America, he was 
stationed in the southern part of New Jersey as a missionary 
of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign 
Parts, officiating at Gloucester and Waterford and at Green- 
wich. In the War of the Revolution he served as chaplain to 
the First Pennsylvania Brigade^ and surgeon to one of the reg- 
iments in the year 177S. Although not acting with the New 
Jersey troops, he may nevertheless be classed as a New Jersey 
Chaplain. In 17S1 he was called to be one of the assistant 
ministers of Christ church and St. Peter's, Philadelphia, where 
he served until iSii. He died Feb. 12, 1S31. 






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